Booster device for muscles

Abstract

A device for aiding a human joint, the device including a booster mechanism including a two part housing, a first part of the housing having a first end adapted for coupling adjacent one side of the joint and a second part of the housing having a second end adapted for coupling adjacent a second side of the joint, one part of the housing being movable relative to the other part of the housing, a spring mounted between the first part of the housing and the second part of the housing, a locking mechanism in the housing for releasably locking the spring when the spring is in a loaded state, and a release element engaging the locking mechanism for unlocking and releasing the loaded spring to boost the first end of the housing away from the second end of the housing.

1 . A device for aiding a human joint, the device comprising:
 a booster mechanism including a two part housing, a first part of the housing having a first end adapted for coupling adjacent one side of the joint and a second part of the housing having a second end adapted for coupling adjacent a second side of the joint, one part of the housing being movable relative to the other part of the housing;   a spring mounted between the first part of the housing and the second part of the housing;   a locking mechanism in the housing for releasably locking the spring when the spring is in a loaded state; and   a release element engaging the locking mechanism for unlocking and releasing the loaded spring to boost the first end of the housing away from the second end of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a plunger having a plunger stopper for neutralizing the boosting operation of the spring in an initially loaded state. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing includes:
 an outer part and an inner part coupled for relative rotational movement; 
 an arm pivotally coupled to the inner part; and 
 an arm coupled to the outer part; 
   the spring includes a torsion spring disposed between the outer part and the inner part;   and the locking mechanism includes a toothed arc and a locking arm, coupled to the inner part.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the booster mechanism is a piston booster;
 the housing includes a double walled inner cylinder slideably mounted in an outer cylinder;   the spring is disposed between the walls of the inner cylinder and between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;   the locking mechanism includes:
 at least two prong extensions of the inner wall, each prong defining a shoulder, a neck portion and a tapered anchor; 
 a plunger having a plunger rod with a plunger stopper at one end and an anchoring disk at the other end, the anchoring disk including a plurality of apertures in registration with the prongs; and 
   the release element includes an unlocking ring disposed in the second part of housing adjacent the locking mechanism on the first part.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a brace including a thigh brace part and a shin brace part; the first end of the first housing engaging the thigh brace part and the second end of the second housing engaging the shin brace part. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the joint to be aided is a knee, and wherein the first end is adapated to be coupled to a thigh above the knee and the second end is adapted to be coupled to the shin below the knee. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts can adopt three states:
 a first state wherein the spring is initially loaded, locked and neutralized permitting free motion between the first and second parts of the housing;   a second state wherein the motion of the first and second parts of the housing towards one another further loads the spring, locks it and neutralizes its boosting power; and
 a third state wherein the spring is released to its original state and the booster mechanism is operative to boost motion of the first and second parts of the housing away from one another. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method for aiding straightening and bending of a human joint, the method comprising:
 coupling a first end of a device having a booster mechanism on one side of the joint;   coupling a second end of the device to a second side of the joint;   wherein the booster mechanism includes
 a two part housing, a first end of the device being on a first part of the housing and the second end being on a second part of the housing; and 
 a spring mounted between the first part of the housing and the second part of the housing; and 
 a locking mechanism in the housing for releasably locking the spring in a loaded state; and 
 a release element in the housing engaging the locking mechanism for unlocking and releasing the spring; 
   moving the first part of the housing relative to the second part of the housing to selectively load or release the spring.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the booster mechanism further includes a plunger having a plunger stopper for neutralizing the boosting operation of the spring in an initially loaded state. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 selectively moving the first end and the second end towards one another for loading the spring with boosting power;   providing resistance between the first end and the second end when the first end approaches the second end, when bending the joint.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 releasing the locked loaded spring when the joint is bent;   moving the first end and the second end away from one another upon release of the locked loaded spring; and   boosting the straightening of the joint.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising locking the spring and neutralizing the booster mechanism when the spring is loaded, for permitting free relative movement between the first end and the second end when the joint is bent. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising locking the spring and neutralizing the booster mechanism when the spring is initially loaded for permitting free relative movement between the first end and the second end when the joint is straight.